Dock St Brewing & Four Season Hotel–Truffled Old Ale—“A Beer Four All Seasons Series”

The Four Season Hotel Philadelphia announced they are working with Dock St Beer to produce a new beer called Truffled Old Ale—The first of four new beers in a series called “A Beer Four All Seasons.”  These beers will only be available in the Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons Philadelphia beginning on Jan 30th, 2012.  Truffled Old Ale has actually been aging in Chardonnay Barrels with winter truffles in the cellar of the Four Seasons.

For the full details from the Four Seasons…

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and Dock Street Brewing Co. Announce “A Beer Four All Seasons.” Truffled Old Ale to be the first in a series of four collaboration beers available exclusively in the Swann Lounge.

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and Dock Street Brewing Co. are proud to unveil the first beer in a new “A Beer Four All Seasons” collaboration series. The Truffled Old Ale debuts at the end of January 2012 and is the first of four seasonal beers to be jointly brewed. The beers will be produced in limited quantity and available exclusively in the Swann Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia.

“We are excited to collaborate with our friends at Dock Street Brewing Co. and launch A Beer Four All Seasons,” says Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia General Manager Harry Gorstayn.“The city of Philadelphia has always been a strong beer city, and we are proud to develop this series of special beers for our guests to enjoy, the first being The Truffled Old Ale.”

The Truffled Old Ale was brewed by Dock Street Brewers and then transported to Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia to cellar in Chardonnay barrels. It was hand bottled straight from the barrels and is spending an additional four weeks bottle conditioning. During this time, the beer is mingling with winter truffles selected by the chefs in the kitchen at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. The Old Ale is a traditional English Beer – well rounded, predominantly malty with just enough bitterness to balance.

Rosemarie Certo, owner of Dock Street Brewery, comments that as the Craft Beer and Buy Local Movements continue to gain momentum, this collaboration of two Philadelphia old neighbors and friends couldn’t be more appropriate. “Dock Street’s first home was at 2 Logan Square, right next to Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. There we shared customers and our rich Philadelphia history. When Dock Street and Four Seasons sommelier and chefs met I was excited by their high level of knowledge and enthusiasm for beer. That first encounter was filled with lively conversation and ideas. What started with making a beer with chocolate truffles turned into making an old ale with winter truffles.”

The Truffled Old Ale is available for sale beginning Monday, January 30, 2012 at a special event in the Swann Lounge from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Executive Chef Rafael Gonzalez is featuring two new dishes on the Swann Lounge Bar menu to pair with the beer: a truffle burger with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms and sottocenere truffle cheese; and truffle French fries with truffle salt and truffle aioli.

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and Dock Street Brewing Co. are planning three more collaboration beers in 2012: a spring beer to be launched in April, a summer beer for June and a fall beer for late September/early October. At least one of the beers will utilize fruits and herbs from the rooftop garden at the Hotel.